About Us

Chiefland Citizen History

For more than 50 years, the Chiefland Citizen has been the voice of the community it serves.

Established in 1950 by Jack Holland, the Chiefland Citizen first changed hands in 1973 when longtime newspaperman Walter Wilson and his wife, Wilhena decided return to their roots and buy a newspaper that was deeply entrenched in the community.

When the Wilsons took over operation of the Citizen, Wilson pledged there would be no major changes as he only wanted "to grow with a growing community."

The Wilsons were hands-on owners and for five months did all the work on the newspaper themselves. One by one, staff was added, including Wilson's brother, Fred, in 1978 until the newspaper boasted 11 employees, cross trained and eager to continue the example set by Holland.

In 1974, the Wilsons decided to publish the Tri-County Bulletin, a free shopper. The Bulletin, along with the Dixie County Advocate began what was to become another side industry for the already- thriving newspaper, outside print jobs.

Within four years, the newspaper had outgrown its location in an old grocery store and moved to its current site on West Park Avenue.

Walter Wilson died in 1995 and his wife and son, Chris, took over the publishing duties of the newspaper and its offshoots.

The next year the Greater Chiefland Chamber of Commerce recognized the community-oriented newspaper as its Industry of the Year."The Citizen has contributed significantly to this community, and I don't think that without you, we would have had the success that we have had," chamber president Robert Mount said at the award luncheon.

In 2000, the Wilsons sold the newspaper to Landmark Community Newspapers Inc., which holds the philosophy that the only first-rate newspapers are those which are independently operated by people who live in the community and who are responsive to community needs.

The staff of the Chiefland Citizen continues to support the philosophies of both Holland and Wilson who were committed to producing a newspaper of the community, by the community and for the community.

Today more than 98 percent of its editorial content is contained to Levy, Gilchrist and Dixie counties and focuses on the people who live here and the issues that concern them.